Henry VI, part 3, Act 4 Scene 5 runs 30 lines of dialogue, spoken by 4 speakers. That is shorter than the play’s average scene length of about 105 lines. This scene is part of Act 4 of Henry VI, part 3.
Full Dialogue
Gloucester ♂
Now, my Lord Hastings and Sir William Stanley,
Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither,
Into this chiefest thicket of the park.
Thus stands the case: you know our king, my brother,
Is prisoner to the bishop here, at whose hands
He hath good usage and great liberty,
And, often but attended with weak guard,
Comes hunting this way to disport himself.
I have advertised him by secret means
That if about this hour he make his way
Under the colour of his usual game,
He shall here find his friends with horse and men
To set him free from his captivity.
Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither,
Into this chiefest thicket of the park.
Thus stands the case: you know our king, my brother,
Is prisoner to the bishop here, at whose hands
He hath good usage and great liberty,
And, often but attended with weak guard,
Comes hunting this way to disport himself.
I have advertised him by secret means
That if about this hour he make his way
Under the colour of his usual game,
He shall here find his friends with horse and men
To set him free from his captivity.
Huntsman ♂
This way, my lord; for this way lies the game.
King Edward Iv ♂
Nay, this way, man: see where the huntsmen stand.
Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and the rest,
Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop's deer?
Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and the rest,
Stand you thus close, to steal the bishop's deer?
Gloucester ♂
Brother, the time and case requireth haste:
Your horse stands ready at the park-corner.
Your horse stands ready at the park-corner.
King Edward Iv ♂
But whither shall we then?
Hastings ♂
To Lynn, my lord,
And ship from thence to Flanders.
And ship from thence to Flanders.
Gloucester ♂
Well guess'd, believe me; for that was my meaning.
King Edward Iv ♂
Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.
Gloucester ♂
But wherefore stay we? 'tis no time to talk.
King Edward Iv ♂
Huntsman, what say'st thou? wilt thou go along?
Huntsman ♂
Better do so than tarry and be hang'd.
Gloucester ♂
Come then, away; let's ha' no more ado.
King Edward Iv ♂
Bishop, farewell: shield thee from Warwick's frown;
And pray that I may repossess the crown.
And pray that I may repossess the crown.
30 lines rendered verbatim from the dialogue corpus.
Who’s On Stage
Speaking characters in this scene
| Character | Lines | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucester | 18 | 60.0% |
| King Edward Iv | 8 | 26.7% |
| Huntsman | 2 | 6.7% |
| Hastings | 2 | 6.7% |
Line distribution
The top speaker in this scene delivers 18 lines, while the scene’s average per speaker is about 8 lines.
Total speakers on stage
4 named characters speak in this scene.
Scene in Context
Position within Act 4
This is Scene 5 of 8 in Act 4 of Henry VI, part 3.
Scene length vs. play average
At 30 lines, this scene is shorter than the Henry VI, part 3 average scene in Henry VI, part 3 (~105 lines).
Adjacent scenes
Previous: Act 4 Scene 4 · Next: Act 4 Scene 6